Method of exploiting lighting assemblies in professional architectural structures

ABSTRACT

A method is described for exploiting lighting assemblies in professional architectural structures. A plurality of lighting assemblies equipped with LEDs is provided. Lighting assemblies are installed for free. After a period of time previously agreed upon, an invoice is sent on the basis of an amount per unit length of the installed assemblies, multiplied with the number of length units of the installed assemblies, in which, in accord with a previously made calculation, that can be checked by the owner, the amount of the invoice is smaller than the savings on the energy costs realized by the owner with the lighting assemblies in said time period. A subsequent invoice is repeatedly sent on a regular basis.

Usually, the owner of a professional architectural structure has lighting assemblies installed on basis of purchase and professional installing in an architectural structure by a professional specialized electrical company. This company charges the installation and the owner and user of the lighting assemblies is charged by the electric energy company on a periodic basis with the costs for supplying electric energy. In case of technical failure or for maintenance the owner has the necessary work performed by either the supplier of the assemblies or by any other company having sufficient technical knowledge and skill.

In this commercial concept in practice only the supplier of the lighting assemblies receives an interesting profit and all costs are borne by the owner.

In practice, on this basis the costs of lighting are high. This is also due to the fact that in almost every professional architectural structure use is made of usual, generally known low-efficiency lamps, e.g. fluorescence lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, or the like.

It is a purpose of the invention to substantially save on energy consumption whilst maintaining a minimum desired light intensity level.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a commercial concept that is highly attractive for owners of professional facilities due to the fact that the financial balance is substantially changed in favour of the owner.

In view of the above purposes the invention provides a method of exploiting lighting assemblies in professional architectural structures, e.g. parking garages, railway stations, bus stations, airports and the like, said method comprising the following steps, to be performed in suitable sequence:

-   -   (a) providing a plurality of lighting assemblies equipped with         LEDs consuming substantially less electric energy than the up to         now usual fluorescence lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, metal         halide lamps, or the like, and thus in use, with substantially         the same light yield, provide substantial savings in the energy         costs for lighting;     -   (b) for free, without any costs, installing lighting assemblies,         if desired with ancillary equipment, in an architectural         structure, in accordance with the wishes of the owner of said         architectural structure;     -   (c) sending, after a time period previously agreed on with the         owner of the architectural structure, an invoice on basis of an         amount per unit length of the installed assemblies, multiplied         with the number of length units of the installed assemblies, in         which, in accord with a previously made calculation, that can be         checked by the owner, the amount of the invoice is smaller than         the savings on the energy costs realized by the owner with the         lighting assemblies in said time period; and     -   (d) subsequently repeatedly sending a subsequent invoice on a         regular, e.g. periodic, basis.

In accord with a specific embodiment the method comprises the step of

-   -   (e) for free, without any costs, on request of the owner giving         service and/or performing maintenance to lighting assemblies and         if necessary replacing light assemblies or parts thereof, and/or         the ancillary equipment, if any, or parts thereof.

Another option is residing in a method comprising the step of

-   -   (f) assigning, after a time period previously agreed with the         owner, e.g. in the order of magnitude of 5-10 years, and after         due payment by the owner of all invoices sent in that time         period, to the owner of the ownership rights of the installed         lighting assemblies.

After the time period an adapted agreement between the patentee and the owner of the facilities, then also being the owner of the lighting assemblies, may be made for continuing, on a payment basis of the further carrying out of step (e).

Preferably, the method comprises the step of

-   -   (g) carrying out step (b) in a way such that first lighting         assemblies with fluorescence lamps or the like according to         step (a) are removed and subsequently lighting assemblies with         LEDs are installed.

For practical purposes it is recommendable under circumstances that the method comprises the step of

-   -   (h) carrying out step (g) in a way such that the lighting         assemblies with LEDs are installed on the same locations as the         removed lighting assemblies with fluorescence lamps or the like.

In order to avoid unnecessary mechanical work, like drilling holes, arranging new fixing brackets and the like, in a practical embodiment the method may comprise the step of

-   -   (i) carrying out step (h) in a way such that the lighting         assemblies with LEDs are fixed on the same fixing zones as the         removed lighting assemblies with fluorescence lamps or the like.

It is in view of a usual and normal economic basis for working the invention recommendable to use a method of the type herein described before, comprising the step of

-   -   (j) carrying out step (d) in a way such that the amount of the         subsequent invoices is indexed with a relevant economic index         number and/or is coupled with the price of electric energy.

In another embodiment on basis of a sound economic concept the method may comprise the step of

-   -   (k) carrying out step (d) in a way such that the amount of every         invoice is at least partly based on the cost savings realized by         the owner in the previous invoice period.

With reference to the appended claims a method is recommended comprising the step of

-   -   (l) prior to step (b) laying down in an agreement between the         patent applicant/patentee or a licencee and an owner of an         architectural structure of the agreement as reached in accord         with independent claim 1 and, as the case may be, at least one         of the independent claims 2-8.

Calculations have shown that savings of 75%-85% on the energy costs can be realized by the owner of the professional facilities.

In comparison with high pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps in the present economic situation an average saving for a total of 500 power LEDs of about USD 95,000,—is expected.

The LEDs have a life span of over 100.000 hours. Preferably they are driven in a way such that the junction temperature of the LEDs is limited to a low value so that the life span is even substantially increased. Nevertheless, every 60,000 hours all LEDs are replaced, as far as applicable by the most recently developed high power and high efficiency types.

The owner of the professional facility has, during the period of the agreement, the right to buy the installed lighting assemblies and ancillary equipment, if any, from a predetermined time after the installing of the assemblies, e.g. 3 years up to 6 years. The price may be partly dependent upon the total of duly paid invoices or other parameters specified herein above. 

1. A method of exploiting lighting assemblies in professional architectural structures, e.g. parking garages, railway stations, bus stations, airports and the like, said method comprising the following steps, to be performed in suitable sequence: (a) providing a plurality of lighting assemblies equipped with LEDs consuming substantially less electric energy than the up to now usual fluorescence lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, or the like, and thus in use, with substantially the same light yield, provide substantial savings in the energy costs for lighting; (b) for free, without any costs, installing lighting assemblies, if desired with ancillary equipment, in an architectural structure, in accordance with the wishes of the an owner of said architectural structure; (c) sending, after a time period previously agreed on with the owner of the architectural structure, an invoice on basis of an amount per unit length of the installed assemblies, multiplied with the number of length units of the installed assemblies, in which, in accord with a previously made calculation, that can be checked by the owner, the amount of the invoice is smaller than the savings on the energy costs realized by the owner with the lighting assemblies in said time period; and (d) subsequently repeatedly sending a subsequent invoice on a regular, e.g. periodic, basis.
 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising (e) for free, without any costs, on request of the owner giving service and/or performing maintenance to lighting assemblies and if necessary replacing light assemblies or parts thereof, and/or the ancillary equipment, if any, or parts thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 1 comprising (f) assigning, after a time period previously agreed with the owner, e.g. in the order of magnitude of 5-10 years, and after due payment by the owner of all invoices sent in that time period, to the owner of the ownership rights of the installed lighting assemblies.
 4. The method according to claim 1 comprising (g) carrying out operation (b) in a way such that first lighting assemblies with fluorescence lamps or the like according to operation (a) are removed and subsequently lighting assemblies with LEDs are installed.
 5. The method according to claim 4, comprising (h) carrying out operation (g) in a way such that the lighting assemblies with LEDs are installed on the same locations as the removed lighting assemblies with fluorescence lamps or the like.
 6. The method according to claim 5, comprising (i) carrying out operation (h) in a way such that the lighting assemblies with LEDs are fixed on the same fixing zones as the removed lighting assemblies with fluorescence lamps or the like.
 7. The method according to claim 1, comprising (j) carrying out operation (d) in a way such that the amount of the subsequent invoices is indexed with a relevant economic index number and/or is coupled with the price of electric energy.
 8. The method according to claim 1, comprising (k) carrying out operation (d) in a way such that the amount of every invoice is at least partly based on the cost savings realized by the owner in the previous invoice period.
 9. The method according to claim 1, comprising (l) prior to operation (b) laying down in an agreement between a patent applicant/patentee or a licencee and the owner of the architectural structure terms regarding installing the lighting assemblies and terms regarding invoicing. 